They say that skin moles are cancerous. That may not be the case, though. How can you tell if a skin mole is cancerous or not? You might have seen many people with moles on their cheek, chin, forehead or other parts of the body. Some people think they make the face look prettier. For some, they only serve to be distractions, especially if they have irregular shapes and sizes. That could get quite irritating. You might look very beautiful but these moles might spoil this beauty.
In such situations, it is wise to take some efforts to remove the skin moles. When moles are found to be cancerous, it becomes more imperative to have them removed. In certain people, cancerous moles can be easily identified. In other cases, a cancerous mole can go undiagnosed. It might seem to be a normal one, but it can turn cancerous. Simple observation from time to time of moles can make you notice if there are changes. For instance, when your normal moles are turning into cancerous ones, the symmetry or the number of moles might be showing a drastic change.
The border of moles, the diameter and other features might also be providing you a clue that your normal moles are converting into harmful ones. As long as these skin moles are benign, it does not lead to any health concerns. But at the slightest indication that they are dangerous, see to it immediately. If you don’t, there would be a risk that the moles will increase in number. That would lead to the faster spread of cancer. At that time, the damage to the body will be beyond repair.
If you have a doctor, check if the moles are cancerous, the moles’ size, location, shape and other details will be examined. Surgical excision will be performed on the border of the moles. Only a small portion is removed and you need not be worried. The tissue will, then be sent to the pathology department. Here it is thoroughly checked.
Changes in the color of the skin moles are also good indicators. Say, for instance, your mole’s color is brown; it has to be brown for the entire mole. If the color is not consistent throughout the mole, it can be cancerous. Uniformity of color and its consistency are vital indicators. Next, the symmetry of the moles will be checked, as well as their diameter.
Moles, which seem to be a little itchy or those moles that do not have an even surface can actually be cancerous. Benign moles normally have well-defined borders. If it causes pain or if it bleeds a little, then you surely need to meet the doctor. The shape or surface of both sides of the moles should look the same. Without that perfect symmetry, you might be dealing with a cancerous mole. Be vigilant and check your moles closely for any uncharacteristic changes.
Naked Mole-Rat 20th Anniversary at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Image by Smithsonian’s National Zoo
Twenty years ago today, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo welcomed naked mole-rats (Heterocephalus glaber) into its collection. These rodents, which are more closely related to porcupines and guinea pigs than to their namesake, are one of only a handful of mammals that exhibit eusocial behavior. Like insects such as termites and bees, naked mole-rats follow a hierarchical social structure that consists of one breeding female called the queen, up to three breeding males and many non-breeding workers and soldiers. In the wild, a single colony may contain as few as 20 individuals or as many as 300 individuals.
Eleven naked mole-rats are currently on exhibit at the Zoo’s Small Mammal House, though two other colonies, each comprised of nine individuals, live off-exhibit. Nearly 300 naked mole-rat pups have been born here and survived to adulthood since 1991. However, no pups have survived in the last 10 years. For unknown reasons, it is common for captive colonies to self-regulate their population. In the wild and in human care, these animals can live upwards of 30 years old.
Naked mole-rats are native to the arid-desert and semi-grassy regions of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia in Eastern Africa and spend most of their lives navigating through dark underground tunnels. Because they have poor eyesight, they rely on smell, touch and hearing to get around. Measuring only three inches long, these rodents sport very little hair and have bare, wrinkly skin which varies in color from pink to grayish-pink. In addition to hairy feet, they also have hairy mouths that prevent them from swallowing dirt while they dig with their large incisor teeth.
Visitors to the Zoo’s websites can watch naked mole-rats on the Animal Webcam.
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Photo Credit: Meghan Murphy, Smithsonian’s National Zoo.
Are your skin moles dangerous?
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